Container apparatus



April 25, 1967 I W. C. MURPHY CONTAINER APPARATUS TZIIIIII Fig 1. William CMurphg Filed June 11, 1965 INVENTOR BY mpwizy United States Patent Ofiice 3,31%,047 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 3,316,047 CONTAINER APPARATUS William C. Murphy, 3020 SW. 12th Ave., Portland, Oreg. 97201 Filed June 11, 1965, Ser. No. 463,270 3 Claims. (Cl. 312275) This invention relates to mounted containers. More particularly, it concerns a container, such as a refuse container, which is detachably mounted on the back of a panel such as a cabinet door, and is provided with a closure device or lid also mounted on the door panel operable automatically to cover the top of the container with the panel in one posit-ion and to expose the top of the container with the panel in another position. With the container on a cabinet door, movement of the lid to a position covering the container accompanies closing of the door.

Such apparatus is useful in a kitchen or in a laboratory, for example, where it is frequently necessary to discard waste material, and where it is desirable that a container for that purpose be kept, when not in use, in a cabinet installation where the container is out of the way and out of sight.

Thus, a general object of the invention is to provide apparatus comprising a container which is mounted on the back of a panel such as a cabinet door, and a closure device such as a lid for the top of the container, so organized that the lid shifts to expose the container top automatically with the panel in one position, and shifts to cover the top automatically with the panel in another position.

A related object is to provide such apparatus, Where the container is removably seated in a bracket mounted on the panel, and the lid is hinged to the bracket. This facilitates removal of the container to empty its contents.

Another object is to provide apparatus as described where an elongated tension-transmitting member is connected between such lid and a frame that movably supports the panel, such as a door frame, and the member tenses upon moving of the panel, and operates upon tensing to shift the lid away from the top of the container.

A further object is to provide a swingable lid for a container of the type described, which swings past an over-center position relative to the ground with the container removed from the bracket which seats it, to reach a position of rest offering no obstruction to the return of the container to a position seated on its bracket.

A related object is to provide such apparatus where the lid is prevented from so swinging past such an overcenter position with the container seated on its bracket, thus to be maintained in a position where the force of gravity tends to urge the lid to a position covering the top of the container.

Still another object is to provide such apparatus where,

with the lid swung past such an over-center position, the

act of seating the container in its bracket causes the lid to tip forwardly through its over-center position to reach a position where the force of gravity tends to urge the lid to its covering position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bracket mounted on a cabinet door for seating a detachable container, where the container seats in the bracket with gravity urging the container toward the door.

Another object is to provide an open top container having serrations along its upper marginal edge for assisting in paring off excess portions of a bag or other like receptacle held in the container.

These and other objects of the invention will become more fully apparent when the description which follows is read in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of container apparatus according to the invention, with portions broken away;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the container apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section view taken along the line 44 in FIG. 3, showing a lid in the apparatus in different positions; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 show modifications of the invention.

Turning now to the drawings and first to FIGS. 1 through 3, a cabinet installation or cabinet is indicated generally at 10. The cabinet comprises a cabinet frame 12 which includes a door frame 14, with the door frame defining a door opening 16 for access into the cabinet. Such a cabinet is often found in kitchens, laboratories, or other places where enclosed storage space is useful.

A movable panel or door 18 is provided for opening and closing the door opening. The door is hinged to the door frame on hinges 20, and is swingable on the hinges about a vertical axis. In FIG. 1, the door is shown swung away from and exposing the door opening. It should be noted here that although a. hinged door is shown, in certain applications other mountings for the door may be preferable.

A bracket is shown at 22 secured to the back of the door by fasteners or screws 24. The bracket includes a back 26 which abuts the door, a pair of flange portions 28 adjacent the sides of the bracket paralleling and spaced away from the back, and a pair of supports 3i adjacent outer margins of the flanges, projecting forwardly from the back of the bracket. In a preferred embodiment as shown, the bracket is an integral piece and may be formed from a material such as sheet metal. This kind of construction provides a bracket which is light in weight, easy to produce and relatively nonbulky.

Each support is provided wit-h a support notch 32 formed in the upper edge of the support. As best seen in FIG. 2, the top of a support is substantially horizontal.

A container 34 constructed according to the invention seat-s on the bracket. The container has an open top indicated generally at 36, and a pair of supporting pins 38 projecting laterally outwardly from the sides of the container adjacent the top. The container seats on the bracket between supports 30 with the supporting pins seating in notches 32, and with the back of the container abutting flange portions 28 of the bracket. The supporting pins are located closer to the back than to the front of the container, so that with the container seated on the bracket as shown, gravity by tending to swing the container in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2 urges the container toward the back of the bracket and into abutment with the flange portions described.

The container preferably is provided with a serrated upper marginal edge 40 which defines its open top. This edge is useful when receptacles, such as paper bags, are inserted in the container, as it assists in tearing off any excess portions of the receptacles that may extend above the top of the container. A handle 42, pivoted adjacent the top of the container, is provided for lifting and carrying the container.

It will be apparent that the container may be easily removed from the bracket merely by lifting it by its handle upwardly from the bracket. Conversely, the container may be easily seated on the bracket by lowering it until plan view of the container apparatus of its supporting pins seat in the notches described.

A closure device or lid for covering the top of the container is shown at 44. The lid is pivoted by connections 46 to the supports of the bracket, and is swingable about a horizontal axis defined by these pivotal connections.

An element 57 is fastened to the lid including a tab 56 which projects out from one margin of the lid. With the container seated on the bracket, upward and rearward swinging movement of the lid, from a position of the lid covering the top of the container (shown at 44A in FIG. 2), causes the tab to swing downwardly and forwardly until it engages the back of the container. As seen in FIG. 4, the tab is arranged to engage the container with the lid still inclining somewhat forwardly of an overcenter position relative to the ground, thus to prevent the lid from swinging backwardly and through this overcenter position. With the container seated on the bracket, swinging movement of the lid is confined to a region located forwardly of the over-center position for the lid. In this region, gravity at all times tends to pull the lid downwardly to a position covering the container.

By means yet to be described, when the container is removed from the bracket with the cabinet door open, the lid is swung rearwardly past its over-center position to reach a position resting against the back side of the cabinet door, as shown in FIG. 4 at 44C. The lid is stable in this position with the container removed, as gravity now functions to pull the lid downwardly and toward the door in back of the bracket. In this stable position, the lid offers no obstruction to remounting the container on the bracket.

When the container is reseated n the bracket, with the cabinet door open, the back of the container engages the tab and forces the lid to swing forwardly through its over-center position to an inclined position over the container.

According to the invention, the lid automatically, with opening of the cabinet door, shifts away from the container to expose its top, and with closing of the door swings down to cover the container top. The means that actuates the lid to swing it away from the top of the container with opening of the door comprises an arm 58 forming part of element 57, and an elongated flexible line or tension-transmitting member 60 which has one end fastened to the arm and the other end fastened to the inside of the cabinet frame, by anchor connection 64.

The tension-transmitted member is preferably constructed of a material which is somewhat elastic, so that when the member is tensed, it elongates somewhat between its ends, and when it is relaxed, it contracts to its original length. A braided cord, or other line, has been found to work well for this purpose.

A guide such as pulley 66 trains the line between its ends. The pulley is mounted adjacent the bottom of the bracket on a swivel 68. When door 18 is swung open, line 60 tensions and pulls down on arm 58 to swing the lid up and away from the container. With closing of door 18 the line relaxes, to enable the lid to fall by gravity down over the top of the container.

Briefly describing the operation of the apparatus, with the cabinet door closed the lid covers the container, and line 60 is relaxed. Upon opening of the cabinet door, line 50 tenses and the lid swings upwardly away from the container top. When the lid reaches the position shown at 44-13 in FIG. 4, the tab engages the back of the container and prevents further swinging of the lid. Further opening of the cabinet door is accompanied by slight extending of line 60. The container may now be removed from the bracket. When such is done, tension in line 60 causes the lid to swing from position 44B to position 44C where the lid is in a stable position away from where the container rests.

Referring to FIG. where a modification of the invention is illustrated, here a bracket 70 with supports 90 is disclosed which may be fastened to the back of a door and a lid 72 which is pivoted to the bracket at '74. The lid is swung between a lowered position where it is substantially horizontal and a raised position by a cord 76 which passes over a swivel pulley at '78 and which contains branches 80, 82 that are connected to the lid 72.

In FIG. 6 where another modification of the invention is shown, here portions of a bracket 70, namely, one of its supports which project out from the back of a door for supporting a container, is shown with a container 92 mounted on the support. In this modification of the invention the container has no handle, but instead a turnedover rim 96 extending about the top thereof and this rim along the sides of the container fits over the top edge of a support to seat the container in place. The rim is also used to lift the container. Suitable means such as a slot construction (not shown) may be included for preventing the container from sliding off the supports of the bracket.

It will be noted, and referring to FIG. 3, that the container does not have an absolutely rectangular cross section, but includes beveled corners along the front thereof. With the handle removed and where a rim such as the one disclosed in FIG. 6 is provided for seating and for lifting the container, such a contour increases the clearance available when the door is swung closed. For purposes of obtaining even greater clearance, other cros sections of the container may be selected.

The construction disclosed is suitable for use with doors that open from the left, or from the right. The construction is completely quiet, and no springs are required.

By changing the point where the cord is attached to the lid, or to the door frame, the time at which the lid swings up to open up the container on opening of the door is changed. With an adjustable anchor connection, this timing may be easily changed in each installation.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, there is no intention to limit the invention to this particular embodiment. Other variaions are possible, without departing from the invention, and it is desired to cover all such modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a cabinet having a cabinet frame including a door frame defining a door opening for access into the cabinet,

a movable door mounted on said cabinet for opening and closing said door opening,

a bracket secured to said door,

a container removably seated on said bracket, said container having an open top,

a lid pivoted to said bracket for movement about a horizontal axis, having an over-center position rela tive to the ground with the lid upright in said overcenter position,

said lid being swingable forwardly and backwardly through its said over-center position with said container removed from said bracket,

a tab secured to said lid, operable with said container seated on said bracket to confine said lid to swinging movement in a region forwardly of its said overcenter position,

said region where movement is afforded the lid by said tab including a position for said lid where it covers the open top of said container with said door closing said door opening, and

actuator means connecting said lid and said cabinet frame, operable upon movement of said door away from said door opening to shift said lid away from said open container top.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein upon'removal of the container from the bracket and with the door open, sa1d actuator means operates to swing said lid backwardly through its said over-center position.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said actuator means comprises an arm secured to said lid, and an elongated flexible tension-transmitting member having one end fastened to said arm and its other end anchored to said cabinet frame.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Irish 220-48 Minich 220-18 Goldberg 1- 312-274 Morrison 312-275 Frazier 323-43.2

6 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,169,313 9/1958 France.

197,830 8/1938 Switzerland. 249,608 4/ 1948 Switzerland.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION OF A CABINET HAVING A CABINET FRAME INCLUDING A DOOR FRAME DEFINING A DOOR OPENING FOR ACCESS INTO THE CABINET, A MOVABLE DOOR MOUNTED ON SAID CABINET FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAID DOOR OPENING, A BRACKET SECURED TO SAID DOOR, A CONTAINER REMOVABLY SEATED ON SAID BRACKET, SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN OPEN TOP, A LID PIVOTED TO SAID BRACKET FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS, HAVING AN OVER-CENTER POSITION RELATIVE TO THE GROUND WITH THE LID UPRIGHT IN SAID OVERCENTER POSITION, SAID LID BEING SWINGABLE FORWARDLY AND BACKWARDLY THROUGH ITS SAID OVER-CENTER POSITION WITH SAID CONTAINER REMOVED FROM SAID BRACKET, A TAB SECURED TO SAID LID, OPERABLE WITH SAID CONTAINER SEATED ON SAID BRACKET TO CONFINE SAID LID TO SWINGING MOVEMENT IN A REGION FORWARDLY OF ITS SAID OVERCENTER POSITION, SAID REGION WHERE MOVEMENT IS AFFORDED THE LID BY SAID TAB INCLUDING A POSITION FOR SAID LID WHERE IT COVERS THE OPEN TOP OF SAID CONTAINER WITH SAID DOOR CLOSING SAID DOOR OPENING, AND ACTUATOR MEANS CONNECTING SAID LID AND SAID CABINET FRAME, OPERABLE UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID DOOR AWAY FROM SAID DOOR OPENING TO SHIFT SAID LID AWAY FROM SAID OPEN CONTAINER TOP. 